Chapter 142: Return
"Bang!"
Vigne raised her hand and knocked on Rikka's head with a sharp thwack, the sound echoing like a gavel striking down.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Rikka teared up immediately, holding her head and crouching defensively like a small animal caught in the rain. "Vigne's bullying me again! I didn't even do anything this time!"
"Is that so?" Vigne crossed her arms, looking down with mock authority. "Then next time you act up, I'll have Raphiel punish you personally."
"Waaa~ Vigne's so scary! So unfair!"
"Oh really? Then tell me, who do you think made me like this in the first place?"
The little exchange drew a few quiet chuckles from those nearby, Rikka rubbing her head with a pitiful look while Vigne let out a small sigh of exasperation.
...
Not long after, Gabriel and the others arrived, each carrying plush dolls or anime figurines in their hands. Their expressions varied—Raphiel calm and smiling, Vigne elegant as always—but Satania looked utterly crushed, her shoulders slumped like a soldier who had lost her flag.
The red-haired idiot stared down at her figurine, brows furrowing. "So weird... why does it feel like anime characters never change their clothes? It's like they only own one outfit!"
Because that's literally true!
Most anime characters go their entire lives wearing the same clothes. If production gets delayed by a rainy season and the studio loses income, they have no choice but to show up in... other kinds of works to make a living.
Like the famous Honzuko—when times were rough, she had to rush between more than ten adult sets a day just to pay the bills!
Gabriel, holding her claw machine prize like a trophy, walked over to the two little girls with a faint smile. "Which one do you like? Go ahead, pick one yourselves."
"R-really? We can?" Natsu and Ai looked up at her with wide, sparkling eyes, as if they'd just been told they could touch the stars.
"Sure," Gabriel nodded casually, her golden hair brushing over her shoulders.
"Master, can we really pick one?" the two little girls asked shyly, glancing nervously toward Kouya.
The instant his name left their lips, Gabriel's smile froze. Her expression darkened like a cloud covering the sun. "Why are you asking that pervert!"
"Eh? Gabi-chan, you seem unusually mad at Kouya today," Raphiel said curiously, tapping a finger to her lips. "You weren't like this before... could it be... something happened?"
Vigne tilted her head slightly, intrigued. Even Rikka, still rubbing her head, perked up to listen.
"W-what are you talking about!" Gabriel flustered, her face instantly turning red. "There's nothing between us! I just... don't want to see him, that's all!"
Raphiel turned toward Kouya with an angelic smile that could melt glaciers. "Kouya, is that true?"
"Ah, actually..." Kouya started to speak.
"Don't you dare!"
Before he could finish, a rush of air carried a soft fragrance past his nose, and suddenly a small, delicate white hand clamped tightly over his mouth.
"Do you want to die?!" Gabriel hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing with embarrassment and rage. "Say one wrong word and I'll kill you right here!"
Then she froze—because she felt it. The warmth of his breath against her palm. The faint tremor in her hand. The memory of last night's unexpected kiss surged back into her mind like lightning, and she jerked her hand away as if burned. Her cheeks turned scarlet.
"D-disgusting!" she stammered, waving her hand like she could shake the memory away.
She glared at Kouya, her expression saying loud and clear: 'Say the truth and I'll bite you to death.' Then she turned to the others and blurted, "Last night, when I went to the bathroom, I saw this guy drinking water in the living room wearing nothing but underwear! See? Total hentai!"
"Oh, that's all?" Vigne sighed, relieved.
"T-that's exactly what happened!" Gabriel nodded furiously, clearly panicking.
Raphiel's knowing smirk said otherwise.
...
Time slipped by quietly like sand through fingers.
After a while, Kouya felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw the Blue-Eyed Little Dragon staring up at him with big, gleaming eyes full of expectation.
"Is it noon already?" Kouya checked his watch, letting out a soft sigh. "Alright, let's go get lunch. How about a buffet?"
The little dragon's face lit up instantly. She raised her tiny hands like a victorious hero. "Yay! Buffet time!"
...
"Boss," a manager-looking man burst into the office, panting slightly. "That kid from yesterday... she's back again!"
"What?!" The boss, a weary man in his forties, froze mid-sip of his tea. He turned to the security monitor—and there she was. Kanna, her eyes sparkling like twin stars, strolling confidently into the restaurant.
The man groaned and clutched his chest. "God help me... how can one child eat so much?"
Her appetite was monstrous—beyond human comprehension. But such appetite often foretold greatness.
In ancient times, a person's strength was measured by how much they could eat.
So eating a lot wasn't shameful—it was a sign of life, of health, of vigor.
Of course, if you eat that much and never train, well... that's a different story.
The boss sighed and rubbed his temples. "Forget it. Let them eat. Ms. Sachiko Hirata already warned me anyway..." With a defeated look, he wiped the corner of his eyes. "I'll just consider it charity."
Inside the restaurant, the scene was lively. The hum of chatter, the clinking of plates, the faint aroma of grilled meat and fruit mixed in the air. Apart from the two little girls who couldn't stop glancing around with innocent curiosity, everyone else looked relaxed.
Fruits came first—slices of apple shining under the light, fresh strawberries, bright wedges of watermelon, all arranged neatly on white plates.
Natsu and Ai cautiously each picked up a strawberry, bit down—and froze, their eyes instantly widening.
"So good! So sweet!"
"It's like... ten times better than carrots!" Ai exclaimed.
Enough already!
Seriously, do you two measure deliciousness in carrot units?!
At the next table, a family of three was enjoying shrimp together. The mother peeled the shells with graceful hands, the father savored each bite, and the child watched them curiously.
"Mom," the boy suddenly asked, "the shrimp can't go home anymore... do you think their moms are worried?"
The mother froze mid-peel, at a loss for words, before awkwardly turning to her husband.
The man chuckled, picking up another shrimp. "Don't worry, son. Look—see? Their whole family's here."
Ah yes, the importance of staying together as a family.
What nonsense!
The mother forced a laugh. "Alright, if you don't want shrimp, how about some rabbit meat? It's really good for you."
In Japan, rabbit meat was often called "beauty meat" for its high protein and low fat. Healthy, nutritious, and adored by women watching their figures.
"S-so scary!" came two trembling little voices.
Natsu and Ai froze mid-bite, clutching each other like terrified bunnies. "I knew it! Humans really do like eating rabbits!"
Ai's eyes glistened. "Master won't eat us, right? Right?"
"Natsu doesn't want to be eaten!"
For crying out loud!
"Do you two seriously think you're tastier than the food on the table?! And could you please not cry while eating? Fruit and tears do not go together!"
"B-but it's too delicious... I can't stop..." Ai sniffled between bites.
Kouya sighed, shaking his head. Raphiel tried to stifle her laughter, while Vigne rubbed her temples. Even Gabriel, pretending to be annoyed, couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
...
Two hours later, the buffet was finally over. The Blue-Eyed Little Dragon left reluctantly, her small head turning back every few steps as if bidding farewell to paradise. The waiters, stunned by the empty trays she left behind, could only stare in disbelief.
They returned to the hot spring villa. Steam curled softly over the water as the girls soaked together one last time, chatting lazily while the afternoon light glowed through the mist. Afterward, they dressed, folded towels neatly, returned the rented yukata, packed souvenirs, and cleaned up every bit of leftover trash.
"Alright, let's head back," Vigne said, waving a hand with a calm smile.
"Already?" Raphiel tilted her head, her silver hair glimmering. "It feels like it all went by in a blink... like a dream that ended too soon." Then she turned to the two little girls. "What about Ai and Natsu? What will you do?"
"Of course we're going back with Master! We'll serve him every day!" Ai raised her hand with pure determination.
"No way!" came two overlapping voices in perfect harmony.
Even the air trembled from the force of their protest.